Hundreds of Teamsters made organizing plans, set our movement’s direction, and elected our TDU leadership for the coming year at the first (and hopefully last!) online TDU Convention.

The online TDU Convention, held on Zoom, drew more than 300 Teamsters. Members reported on local elections where reformers are running for office and heard from candidates for International Union office.

In breakout groups, members made plans for building the OZ-Teamsters United campaign, discussed constitutional reforms that can be introduced at next year’s TDU Convention, and brainstormed ideas for TDU upcoming educational workshops and organizer training.

TDU will be launching a new series of online workshops based on ideas generated at our Convention on workplace organizing, grievance handling, labor history, and rebuilding union power. 

Fundraising to Fuel Our Work

The TDU Convention is our biggest fundraiser of the year and the online Convention was no exception. We raised an incredible $84,829 to fund our campaigns and activities for the coming year. 

Thanks to everyone who donated generously. TDU is member owned and operated and 100% funded through dues and donations from TDU members and supporters. There’s still time to donate or join to support TDU.

Electing TDU’s Leadership

TDU is run by a fifteen member Steering Committee that is elected annually at the Convention. This year’s Steering Committee was elected online on OpaVote, a secure online voting system.

The Steering Committee held a vote on Sunday to choose it’s officers for the year. The TDU Co-Chairs are Dave Bernt (Local 705), Eugene Braswell (Local 804), Brooke Reeves (Local 251), and Frank Halstead (Local 572). The National Organizer is Ken Paff.

The Trustees are Dan Campbell (Local 200), Wille Hardy (Local 667), and John Palmer (Local 657) with Alternate Gina Alvarez (Local 743).

The rest of the Steering Committee members for 2020-2021 are Emily Butt (Local 243), Kristen Jefferson (Local 705), Gabriella Killpack (Local 222), Nick Perry (Local 413), Bryan Trafford (Local 89), Julian Tysh (Local 814), Sean Williams (Local 71). 

The alternates to the Steering Committee are Gina Alvarez (Local 743), Corey Levesque (Local 251) and Jerry Yarbrough (Local 667)